Bethesda Game Studios has rolled out update 1.15.216 for Starfield, bringing key improvements aimed at both players on lower-end hardware and those involved in mod creation. While the patch may not include headline-grabbing features, it delivers practical enhancements that improve the overall experience.

Smoother Gameplay for Low-End PCs

A major highlight of this update is the introduction of Very Low display settings, designed to make Starfield more accessible to players with less powerful PCs. Since launch, performance issues have been a persistent concern for many users. With this addition, those on weaker machines may now enjoy a noticeably more stable experience.

Creation Kit Gets Major Modding Upgrades

Another significant part of the update focuses on improvements to the Creation Kit, Starfield’s modding toolkit. The update raises the upload file size cap for mods to 2 GB and now allows creators to include custom icons. Additionally, the Creations Store now supports bundled content, making it easier to distribute more complex mod packages.

New Story Content From Kinggath Creations

Bethesda has also spotlighted a new mod titled Watchtower, developed by Kinggath Creations, a group known for its work on titles like Fallout 4 and Skyrim. This mod adds an entirely new narrative to Starfield, featuring a faction that perceives the player as a threat to humanity. In terms of gameplay, Watchtower introduces features like orbital strikes, further enriching the modding ecosystem.

This creation is now available through the in-game Creation Store.

Breakdown of Starfield Update 1.15.216

New Features

• Very Low Display Settings: Added to enhance performance on devices with lower specs.
  
• Creation Kit Enhancements: Mod creators can now upload larger files, create custom icons, and bundle content.
  
• Vehicle Compass Marker: Players can now see their vehicle on the compass for easier navigation.
  
• Keyboard Bind for Boost (PC): A new keybinding option for vehicle boost has been added.
  

General Fixes and Improvements

Numerous bug fixes have been made to address control lockups, crashes, and stability issues that previously disrupted gameplay. These include:

• Resolved crashes tied to mod load orders and plugins.
  
• Fixed rare movement locks during dialogue or vehicle interactions.
  
• Fixed quicksave-related bugs and vanity camera exit issues.
  
• Improved Creation UI stability and performance.
  

Gameplay Adjustments

The update also addresses some specific gameplay inconsistencies:

• Skill Effects: Outpost Management bonuses now persist after entering the Unity.
  
• Legendary Effects: The Space-Adept trait no longer penalizes terrestrial combat.
  
• Quest Issues: Several quests such as At Hell’s Gate, Perfect Recipe, and The Starjacker received critical fixes to ensure smooth progression.
  
• Weapon Behavior: Issues with missiles and ship-related combat damage were resolved.
  

Graphics and UI Tweaks

• Resolution Support Expanded: New aspect ratios including 32:9 and 32:10 are now supported.
  
• Celestial Object Visibility: Sky elements now render correctly after entering interiors.
  
• UI Improvements: Font size-related menu issues, button responsiveness, and module naming errors were corrected.
  

Location and Quest Fixes

Players can expect more stable experiences across environments:

• Mannequin Persistence: Fixed for the New Atlantis Penthouse.
  
• Shelf Customization: Now available in Core Manor, Akila City.
  
• Hell’s Gate: The Crucible Blade behaves correctly with both sound and ship interactions.
  

Vehicle Functionality Upgrades

• Exiting Vehicles: Improved logic when vehicles are partially blocked.
  
• Rev-8 Artifacts: Boost visuals in foggy areas have been cleaned up.
  
• Surveying Skill Fixes: Camera issues for max-level Surveyors have been addressed.
  

Shattered Space-Specific Fixes

The Shattered Space expansion also receives attention:

• New Modules: Va’ruun outpost parts unlock after Unity access.
  
• Skill Tracking: Gravity bubble kills now contribute to Gymnastics skill.
  
• Visual Bugs: Lens flare and pixelation issues on weapons and environments were corrected.
  
• Dialogue Consistency: Adjustments made for post-Unity interactions and bounty scanner missions.
  

Localization Updates

The patch brings better international language support, ensuring that:

• Dehydrated debuff text no longer gets cut off in certain languages.
  
• Bounty board content and status effects are now properly localized in multiple languages.
  

Looking Ahead

Starfield continues to evolve, not only through official patches but also with support for a growing modding community. While a PlayStation 5 version is still unconfirmed, a recent Creation Kit error may hint that it’s on the horizon.

The update is now live for PC and Xbox Series X|S players.